Green Bill would freeze GE moratorium for 5 years

Green MP Ian Ewen-Street has entered a private
members' bill into today's ballot that would extend the
moratorium on the commercial release of genetically modified
material until 31 October, 2008.

The Hazardous Substances
and New Organisms (Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill
would extend by five years the date upon which the
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) may consider
applications for the release of genetically engineered
organisms into the environment.

"At this stage, we simply
do not know what effect the release of GE organisms will
have on our environment," Said Mr Ewen-Street. "The research
commissioned by the government in response to the
recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic
Modification still has a long way to go.

"For example, the
research into soil ecosystems and horizontal gene transfer
is still several years from completion. It would be crazy to
allow the moratorium to expire without knowing the results
of this research and it would also be inconsistent with
Government policy to allow GE to proceed with caution.

"It
would be environmentally and economically irresponsible to
lift the moratorium at this stage, with research either
incomplete or suggesting dire effects on our burgeoning
organic industry and agricultural exports. Nor have the
issues of contamination and liability been addressed.

"The
Royal Commission recommended that the Government should
proceed with caution," said Mr Ewen-Street. "That is exactly
what this Bill sets out to achieve."

Mr Ewen-Street's is
the second Green private members' bill in the ballot to deal
with GE issues.

Sue Kedgley's Consumers Right to Know
(Food Information) Bill would extend GE labelling to cover
all foods and ingredients made with gene technology. It also
requires the labelling of GE animal feed and would enshrine
in law the concept of consumers' right to know what is in
the food they're eating.

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